story
/ˈstɔːri/noun
उच्चारण स्टॉरी
कहानी, कथा, किस्सा
Basic wordPYP · asked 12 times
Asked in previous papers
as idiom, synonym
+7 more
SSC CPO Pre 2019SSC CHSL Pre 2025SSC CHSL Pre 2023SSC MTS 2023SSC Steno 2025SSC Selection Post Phase 13 2025SSC Exams before 2018- 1
[C]
a description of events and people that the writer or speaker has invented in order to entertain
कहानी, कथा, किस्सा
- Grandmother told us a story every night.
- a ghost story
- the story of the lion and the mouse
+ 3 more examples
- The teacher read us a short story about a clever crow.
- Radhika writes stories for the school magazine.
- Children love stories about animals.
- 2
[C]
an account of past events or of how something has developed
वृत्तांत, विवरण, इतिहास (किसी चीज़ का)
- the story of the freedom struggle
- Tell me the whole story from the beginning.
- The story of how the village got its name is interesting.
+ 2 more examples
- He told us the story of his journey across India.
- This museum tells the story of our railways.
- 3
[C]
a report in a newspaper or on television
समाचार, खबर, रिपोर्ट
- The paper ran a front-page story on the scam.
- The news channel ran a story on rising onion prices.
- The channel ran a story on road safety.
+ 2 more examples
- A reporter broke the story about the missing funds.
- The paper dropped the story after the official denial.
- 4
[C]
the series of events in a book, film or play
कथानक, प्लॉट
- The film has a weak story but great songs.
- The story of the novel moves between two cities.
- The story of the film is set in Kolkata.
+ 2 more examples
- I liked the music but found the story weak.
- The story takes place over a single night.
- 5
[C] informal
an excuse or an explanation that may not be true
(बोलचाल में) बहाना, मनगढ़ंत बात
- Do not give me a story; why are you late?
- His story did not match the facts.
- That's just a story to cover up his mistake.
+ 2 more examples
- She made up a story about the broken glass.
- Don't believe every story you hear.
Synonyms excuse tale fib lie fabrication
§Structures (grammar patterns) 4
a story about / of sb / sth
Use about for the subject of a story; of is more literary and usually names the central person or event.
कहानी के विषय के लिए about आता है; of अधिक साहित्यिक है और प्रायः केंद्रीय व्यक्ति या घटना को बताता है।
- She read a story about a clever crow.
- It is the story of a boy from a small village.
tell / read / write a story
The usual verbs are tell, read, write and make up; note that you tell a story but you do not 'say' a story.
सामान्य verbs tell, read, write और make up हैं; ध्यान दें कि story 'tell' की जाती है, 'say' नहीं।
- Grandmother tells us a story every night.
- He wrote a story for the school magazine.
story (news) / cover story
In journalism, a story is a news report, and a cover story is the main article of a magazine.
पत्रकारिता में 'story' समाचार रिपोर्ट है, और 'cover story' पत्रिका का मुख्य लेख है।
- The newspaper broke the story on Monday.
- The cover story was about floods.
story / storey (spelling difference)
In British English, storey with an e is a floor of a building, while story is a tale; US English uses story for both.
British English में 'storey' (e सहित) इमारत की मंज़िल है, जबकि 'story' कहानी है; US English दोनों के लिए 'story' लिखता है।
- The new hospital is a ten-storey building.
- Every storey has a fire exit.
+Collocations 5
adjective + story
shorttruetouchinggrippinginspiring
- He told us a gripping story of survival.
verb + story
tellinventpublishmake upbelieve
- Don't believe his story; it has no proof.
story + noun
linetellerbookwritertime
- The film has a weak story line.
noun + story
loveghostdetectivesuccesslife
- Her life story is an inspiration for students.
story + preposition
aboutofbehindonin
- What is the story behind this old photograph?
“More examples 5
- The teacher told the children a story from the Panchatantra.
शिक्षक ने बच्चों को पंचतंत्र की एक कहानी सुनाई।
- Every reporter wants to break a big story.
हर रिपोर्टर कोई बड़ी ख़बर सबसे पहले देना चाहता है।
- His story did not match the facts, and the police doubted it.
उसकी बात तथ्यों से मेल नहीं खाती थी, और पुलिस को उस पर संदेह हुआ।
- The story of Radhika's struggle moved the whole class.
राधिका के संघर्ष की कहानी ने पूरी कक्षा को भावुक कर दिया।
- The old building has only two storeys.
पुरानी इमारत में केवल दो मंज़िलें हैं।
!Common mistakes 3
✗ Grandfather said us a story.
✓ Grandfather told us a story.
We tell a story; say is not used with story in this meaning.
Story 'tell' की जाती है; इस अर्थ में story के साथ say प्रयुक्त नहीं होता।
✗ The story is about of a king.
✓ The story is about a king.
Use either about or of, never both together.
या तो about या of का प्रयोग करें, दोनों साथ नहीं।
✗ My office is on the third story of the building.
✓ My office is on the third storey of the building.
In British English, a floor of a building is spelt storey.
British English में इमारत की मंज़िल की spelling 'storey' है।
≠Thesaurus: which synonym when
Story, tale and narrative all mean an account of events, but they differ in style and register.
Story, tale और narrative तीनों घटनाओं के वृत्तांत हैं, पर शैली और प्रयोग-स्तर में भिन्न हैं।
The general word for a true or invented account of events.
सच्ची या कल्पित घटनाओं के वृत्तांत के लिए सामान्य शब्द।
- She wrote a story.
A simple story, often old, traditional or about the unusual.
सरल कहानी, प्रायः पुरानी, पारंपरिक या असामान्य बातों की।
- The tale of King Vikram is famous.
A more formal word for the telling of a connected series of events.
जुड़ी हुई घटनाओं के वर्णन के लिए अधिक औपचारिक शब्द।
- The narrative moves between two cities.
¶Idioms 8
a likely story
used to say you do not believe what somebody has said
(व्यंग्य में) अच्छा बहाना है, मैं नहीं मानता
- 'The dog ate my homework.' 'A likely story!'
the same old story
a situation that has happened many times before
वही पुरानी कहानी, वही पुराना रोना
- Late again? It is the same old story.
to cut a long story short
used when you leave out details and give only the main point
संक्षेप में कहें तो, लंबी कहानी छोटी करके
- To cut a long story short, we missed the train.
end of story
there is nothing more to say
बात खत्म, और कुछ नहीं कहना
- You are not going out tonight, end of story.
that's another story
that is a different matter, to be told separately
वह एक अलग किस्सा है
- How I got the job is another story.
it's a long story
the explanation is too long to give now
लंबी कहानी है
- Why did I leave the city? It's a long story.
a tall story/tale
a story that is difficult to believe
अविश्वसनीय कहानी, गप्प
- He told us a tall story about fighting a tiger.
- Nobody believes his tall tales any more.
the story of my life
used when sth bad happens to you to say that it happens to you very often (informal)
(बुरी बात पर) मेरे साथ तो हमेशा यही होता है (अनौपचारिक)
- I missed the bus again; it's the story of my life.
- "The shop was closed?" "Story of my life."
◇Word family
≈Synonyms and antonyms
?Which word?
story or storey?
Story is a tale or an account; its plural is stories. Storey (British) is a floor of a building: 'a six-storey building'; the plural is storeys. American English uses story for both. 'A three-storey house' has three floors; 'a three-story book' would be a book of three tales.
Story कहानी या विवरण है; plural stories। Storey (British) इमारत की मंज़िल है: 'a six-storey building'; plural storeys। American English में दोनों के लिए story। 'A three-storey house' में तीन मंज़िलें हैं; 'a three-story book' तीन कहानियों की किताब होगी।
“Collocations, idioms and sayings
A likely story, the same old story, to cut a long story short, end of story, that's another story.
Idioms: a likely story (ऐसी बात जिस पर यक़ीन नहीं होता), the same old story (वही पुरानी बात जो बार-बार होती है), to cut a long story short (बात को छोटा करके कहना), end of story (बस, इस पर और बहस नहीं), that's another story (वह एक अलग मामला है, उस पर फिर कभी बात होगी)।
✓In the exam
One-word substitution
A story with animals and a moral is a fable; a story with a religious lesson is a parable; a very old story of heroes or gods is a legend or myth; a short amusing true story is an anecdote; a person who tells stories is a storyteller or raconteur.
जानवरों और नीति की कहानी fable; धार्मिक सीख की कहानी parable; नायकों या देवताओं की बहुत पुरानी कहानी legend या myth; छोटी मज़ेदार सच्ची कहानी anecdote; कहानी सुनाने वाला storyteller या raconteur।